Plastic bail for container and method of attaching bail

ABSTRACT

A container handle made from a single flat sheet of resilient material and having an annular member including rectilinear side portions and arcuate end portions with a bail extending from the outer edge of the angular member and having a central rectilinear section spaced from one of the side portions and integrally joined with each of the end portions. The container handle is attached to a container body by encircling the body with the annular member adjacent one end and seaming an end to the body in a manner to crimp at least a portion of the annular member between the body and the seam.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Elmer W. Griese, Jr.

Chicago, Ill. [21] Appl. No. 30,172 [22] Filed Apr. 20, 1970 [45}Patented Nov. 16, 1971 l 73 Assignee National Can Corporation Chicago,Ill.

[54] PLASTIC BAIL FOR CONTAINER AND METHOD OF ATTACIIING BAIL 13 Claims,7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 220/94 R, 16/110.5, 215/100 A [51 1 Int. Cl 865d 25/28 [501Field of Search 220/94 A, 94 R; 215/100 A; 229/52 R, 52 A, 52 B, 52 AL;206/65 C; 16/1 10.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,000,527 9/1961 Jennings eta1. 220/94 Primary E.raminer- Lloyd L. King AnomeyRobert J. DohertyABSTRACT: A container handle made from a single flat sheet of resilientmaterial and having an annular member including rectilinear sideportions and arcuate end portions with a bail extending from the outeredge of the angular member and having a central rectilinear sectionspaced from one of the side portions and integrally joined with each ofthe end portions. The container handle is attached to a container bodyby encircling the body with the annular member adjacent one end andseaming an end to the body in a manner to crimp at least a portion ofthe annular member between the body and the seam.

PATENTEUNUV 16 Ian PLASTIC BAIL FOR CONTAINER AND METHOD OF ATTACI-IINGBAIL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generallyto containers and more particularly to an improved handle for containersand a method for attaching the handle to the containers.

The use of metal containers for packaging various products for shipmenthas been a common practice for many years. In packaging merchandise,such as paint, onewell-known size of container is a l-gallon can havinga handle or bail pivotally supported by ears located at diametricallyopposed points on the container body.

The use of a metal handle or bail has several disadvantages and thevarious steps necessary for attaching the handle to the containersubstantially increases the cost of the container. In conventional metalhandles or bails, it is necessary to separately form the ears and locatethe ears on the container. Subsequently the bail is either manually ormachine-connected in an additional operation by inserting the ends ofthe bail into openings formed in the ears. Since the bails are normallyformed from a continuous supply of wire, the ends of the bails are cutand bent. As a result the ends are uncoated and are subjected to rustingduring storage. Also, when packaging several cans with the metal bails,it is necessary to orient the containers relative to the dividersnormally forming part of a larger container package.

Another problem encountered in containers having the metal bail orhandle, is that the label is normally applied to the container surfaceafter the ears have been secured thereto. Thus, it becomes necessary toaccurately orient the label relative to the ears to ensure that openingsin the label are concentric with the centers of the respective ears.

While many alternate handle constructions have been proposed, to datenone of these have been commercially acceptable for the conventionalpaint cans and the like and there still remains an urgent need for asimple and inexpensive replacement for the conventional metal bail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to aplastic bail or handle which can readily be formed from an inexpensiveflat sheet of plastic material and which may be attached to a containersimultaneous to the attachment of the container end to the containerbody.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates a container handlemade flat in one piece and lying in a single plane with the handle orbail including an annular member having-rectilinear side portions andarcuate end portions and defining inner and outer edges. The inner edgedefines a substantially rectangular opening. Bail means are formedintegral with the annular member or support and include a centralrectilinear section spaced from and substantially coextensive with thelength of one of the side portions and integrally joined to the outeredge along the arcuate end portions. The integral connections defineshinges between the bail and the annular member or band.

The container handle is attached to the container by encompassing thebody with the annular member and locating the inner edge of the annularmember adjacent one end of the body. Subsequently, a container end isattached to the container body by the usual seaming process in a mannerthat at least a portion of the annular member is secured or crimpedbetween the body and the seam.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, thesubstantially rectangular opening in the annular member is made smallerthan the peripheral dimension of the body so that the annular membermust be stretched or tensioned when the member is placed on the body. Byhaving the opening smaller than the size of the container body, theannular member will be deformed from the single plane to produce asubstantially circular band and the opening becomes enlarged tosubstantially the peripheral dimension of the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows acontainer having the handle or bail of the present invention securedthereto and located in the stored position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the handle in its carryingposition;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the container handle and connecting member inits originally formed condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the seam connecting thecontainer end to the container body and shown in its intermediate stageprior to being crimped to the final position shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 6a shows a slightly modified attaching method for the containerhandle to the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION While this invention is susceptible of embodimentin many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinbe described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit theinvention to the embodiment illustrated.

FIG. 3 of the drawing discloses a plan view of a device or containerhandle and support, generally designated by the reference numeral 10.The support 1] includes an annular member having rectilinear sideportions 12 and I4 and arcuate end portions 16 and 18. The side portions12 and I4 and the end portions 16 and 18 cooperate to define inner andouter edges 20 and 22 respectively. A handle or bail means 24 is formedintegral with the arcuate end portions 16 and 18. The handle or bail maybe divided into a central rectilinear section 26 which is spaced fromand substantially coextensive with the rectilinear side portion 14 withmeans 26 and 28 located at opposite ends of the central rectilinearsection 26 and integral with portions of the respective arcuate endportions 16 and 18.

An inspection of FIG. 3 shows that the integral connection between theends of the portions 28 and 30 and the arcuate end portions 16 and 18extends substantially one-half of the arcuate length of the end portions16 and I8 and the integral connection is located adjacent therectilinear portion 12. Stated another way, the substantial portion ofthe integral connection between the handle 24 and the support or annularmember is located on one side of the longitudinal center axis C of theannular member or band while the handle or bail is located onthe'opposite side of the center axis C.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the device 10 isformed from a flat one-piece sheet located in a single plane andconsisting of a resilient thermoplastic material, such as polyethylene.It should be noted that the final configuration of the device 10 issubstantially rectangular and flat in its originally formed conditionshown in FIG. 3. The configuration of the flat undeformed device 10substantially reduces the amount of sheet material required for formingthe handle and support.

During the formation process, it is preferable that the areas 32 and 34located between the outer edge 22 of the connecting member 16 and theadjacent edge 36 of the handle 24 is coined at 38 and 40 to change theelastic memory of the intermediate area. This change in elastic memoryof the areas 32 and 34 increases the resistance to tearing of thematerial so as to increase the tear strength of the material in thisarea, which, as will hereafter be explained, define and contribute tothe hinge connection along the dotted line portions of FIG. 3.

The handle device 10 is designed to be attached to a conventionalcontainer 50. such as a l-gallon paint can. The container 50 includes acircular body portion 52 having one closed end 54 and a rim or end 56secured to the opposite end of the container body by a conventionaldouble seam 58. The end is designed to receive a cover (not shown).

The method of attaching the handle to the container 50 contemplatesencompassing the body portion 52 with the annular member or band 11,prior to attachment of the container end or rim 56 to the upper end ofthe container body 52. One edge or edge of the band 1 l is locatedadjacent the upper end of the body 52 while the opposite edge 22 isspaced from the associated end. Thereafter, the end 56 is placed injuxtaposed relation to the upper end of the container body 52 and isseamed to the container body by the double seam 58 in a manner to crimpor secure at least a portion of the band, defined by the annular member11, between the adjacent surface of the body 52 and the seam $8.

The finished article or container 50 with the handle 24 secured theretois shown in its normal condition in which the handle or bail 24 islocated below the rim 56 and in juxtaposed relation to the containerbody 52. The handle 24 is adapted to be moved to a carrying positionshown in FIG. 2 wherein the handle extends above the rim 56, as aconventional handle normally is positioned for carrying. During suchmovement from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG.2, the integral connections between the respective end portions 28 andand the end portions 16 and 18 will act as a hinge along the dottedlines, generally designated by the reference numeral 60.

Furthermore, in its fully assembled condition shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6,a portion of the band, defined by the annular member 11, is locatedbetween the upper end of the body 52 and the double seam 58. This willprevent the band from expanding sufficiently to slip over the doubleseam 58 when the weight of the container is being supported by thehandle 24.

Also, as shown in FIG. 6a, a larger portion of the band 11 than thatshown in FIG. 6a may be encompassed within the double seam 58 thusproviding, in addition to anchoring the band to the body 52, an additivesealing efi'ects within the double seam itself. Alternatively, theentire band may be located within the double seam so that only thehandle 24 will be exposed below the seam 58.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the openingdefined by the inner edge 20 is smaller than the peripheral dimension ofthe body 52 and is substantially rectangular in its undeformed conditionshown in FIG. 3. During the deforming of the annular or connectingmember 11 from the planer position shown in FIG. 3 to the finalconfiguration shown in FIG. I, the opening defined by the inner edge 22is enlarged to substantially the peripheral dimension of the body 52 andwill transform the annular member to a band encircling the body and incontacting relation with the surface of the body.

While various types of plastic material may be utilized for forming thehandle device 10, one such material is a medium density, flexiblepolyethylene.

The particular handle of the present invention is very inexpensive tomanufacture because it can be formed from an inexpensive plasticmaterial or thin sheet, which is commercially available. Forming thehandle in the manner described above and interposing the connection orsupport portion of the handle between the container body and the seam,will still insure that the handle will not be deformed sufficiently toslip over the rim 58.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a container having a body and an end secured tosaid body by a double seam, a handle comprising an endless bandencircling said body adjacent said end and having a portion thereoflocated between said body and said double seam; and a bail integral withsaid band, said bail normally being located in juxtaposed relation tosaid body below said end and adapted to be moved to a carrying positionextending beyond said body and said end.

2. A container handle made flat in one piece and lying in a singleplane, said handle being formed of a resilient thermoplastic materialand comprising: an annular member having rectilinear side portions andarcuate end portions, said annular member having inner and outer edges;and bail means extending from said outer edge, said ball means having acentral rectilinear section spaced from and substantially coextensivewith one of said side portions; and means integrally joining saidcentral section with said end portions.

3. A container handle as defined in claim 2, in which the inner edgeportions of said end portions are substantially circular.

4. A container handle as defined in claim 3, in which the inner edgeportions of said end portions have a radius which is one-halfthedistance between the rectilinear side portions.

5. A container handle as defined in claim 2, in which said last meansconnect said central rectilinear section to said end portions adjacentthe other of said rectilinear portions.

6. A method of attaching a handle to a container having a body and anend comprising the steps of encompassing said body with a band ofmaterial having a handle portion integral with one edge; locating anopposite edge of said band adjacent one end of said body; and seamingsaid end to said body in a manner to secure at least a portion of saidband between the body and the seam.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, in which said material is aresilient, flexible plastic material and in which said band is tensionedto encompass said body.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, in which said band has an openingwhich is substantially smaller than the peripheral dimension of saidbody in its undeformed condition.

9. A method as defined in claim 8, in which said opening issubstantially rectangular.

10. A method as defined in claim 6, in which said band and handleportion are produced from a flat one-piece sheet.

1 l. A method of producing and attaching a handle to a container havinga circular body and an end which comprises the steps of producing anintegral handle and connecting member from a flat sheet having a singleplane with the connecting member having an inner edge defining anopening smaller than the peripheral dimension of said body and thehandle being connected at opposite ends to an outer edge of saidconnecting member; deforming said connecting member from said plane toenlarge said opening to substantially the peripheral dimension of saidbody; locating said inner edge adjacent one end of said body and saidouter edge spaced from said one end; and seaming said end to said oneend of said body to crimp said inner edge between the seam and the body.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, in which said opening issubstantially rectangular when the connecting member is in itsundeformed condition.

13. A method as defined in claim 11, in which said sheet is a resilientflexible plastic material including the further step of changing theelastic memory of the connecting area of said sheet between the outeredge of said connecting member and the adjacent edge of said handle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Certificate Patent No. 3 620 410 PatentedNovember 16 1971 Elmer \V. Gl-iese, Jr. A ilieation havin been made bElmer \V. h'iese Jr. the inventor named in the P1 b y t patent aboveidentlfied, and N ational Can Corporation, Uncago, 111., a corporation0t Delaware, the assignee, for the lssuance of a certificate under theprovlsions of Title 35,

Section 256, of the United States Code, adding the name of Ronald C.Owen as a joint inventor, and a showing and proof of facts satisfyingthe requirements of the said section having been submitted, it is this1st day of May 1973, certified that the name of the said Ronald 0. Owenis hereby added to the said patent as a joint inventor with the saidElmer W. Griese, Jr.

FRED W. SHERLING Associate Solicilar'.

1. In combination with a container having a body and an end secured tosaid body by a double seam, a handle comprising an endless bandencircling said body adjacent said end and having a portion thereoflocated between said body and said double seam; and a bail integral withsaid band, said bail normally being located in juxtaposed relation tosaid body below said end and adapted to be moved to a carrying positionextending beyond said body and said end.
 2. A container handle made flatin one piece and lying in a single plane, said handle being formed of aresilient thermoplastic material and comprising: an annular memberhaving rectilinear side portions and arcuate end portions, said annularmember having inner and outer edges; and bail means extending from saidouter edge, said bail means having a central rectilinear section spacedfrom and substantially coextensive with one of said side portions; andmeans integrally joining said central section with said end portions. 3.A container handle as defined in claim 2, in which the inner edgeportions of said end portions are substantially circular.
 4. A containerhandle as defined in claim 3, in which the inner edge portions of saidend portions have a radius which is one-half the distance between therectilinear side portions.
 5. A container handle as defined in claim 2,in which said last means connect said central rectilinear section tosaid end portions adjacent the other of said rectilinear portions.
 6. Amethod of attaching a handle to a container having a body and an endcomprising the steps of encompassing said body with a band of materialhaving a handle portion integral with one edge; locating an oppositeedge of said band adjacent one end of said body; and seaming said end tosaid body in a manner to secure at least a portion of said band betweenthe body and the seam.
 7. A method as defined in claim 6, in which saidmaterial is a resilient, flexible plastic material and in which saidband is tensioned to encompass said body.
 8. A method as defined inclaim 7, in which said band has an opening which is substantiallysmaller than the peripheral dimension of said body in its undeformedcondition.
 9. A method as defined in claim 8, in which said opening issubstantially rectangular.
 10. A method as defined in claim 6, in whichsaid band and handle portion are produced from a flat one-piece sheet.11. A method of producing and attaching a handle to a container having acircular body and an end which comprises the steps of producing anintegral handle and connecting member from a flat sheet having a singleplane with the connecting member having an inner edge defining anopening smaller than the peripheral dimension of said body and thehandle being connected at opposite ends to an outer edge of saidconnecting member; deforming said connecting member from said plane toenlarge said opening to substantially the peripheral dimension of saidbody; locating said inner edge adjacent one end of said body and saidouter edge spaced from said one end; and seaming said end to said oneend of said body to crimp said inner edge between the seam and the body.12. A method as defined in claim 11, in which said opening issubstantially rectangular when the connecting member is in itsundeformed condition.
 13. A method as defined in claim 11, in which saidsheet is a resilient flexible plastic material including the furtherstep of changing the elastic memory of the connecting area of said sheetbetween the outer edge of said connecting member and the adjacent edgeof said handle.